An island lost to unspeakable terrors of pagan rituals!
A devout police sergeant travels to a remote Scottish island to investigate the disappearance of a young girl. He encounters a pagan community led by the enigmatic Lord Summerisle, whose beliefs challenge his Christian convictions. As the mystery deepens, he becomes ensnared in a ritual far more disturbing than he imagined.
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Perfectly realized, flawlessly acted, and brilliantly scored, this exceptional contribution to maverick British cinema very nearly didn’t get a release al all. British horror movies of the preceding decade had mostly been gothic or Wheatley-esque in flavour, whereas The Wicker Man, like Blood on Satan’s Claw, used the old religions and calendar customs of the British Isles for inspiration—the mise en scène being rural/outdoorsy rather than funereal/camp. The bedrock idea is that of a clash of faiths—between Woodward’s uptight Calvinist policeman (Sergeant Howie) and the blatantly sexual, heathen practices of the inhabitants of Summerisle, where he is lured to investigate the disappearance of a young girl.
Kerri Sharp, The Definitive Guide to Horror Movies (Thunder Bay Press, 2025)
Selected disc options for The Wicker Man
| Extras | Lions Gate BD-A 4K/US 2023 | Studio Canal BD-B 4K/UK 2023 | Lions Gate BD-A/US 2014 | Imprint BD-ALL/AU 2022 | Studio Canal BD-B/UK 2013 | Anchor Bay DVD-1/US/OOP 2006 | Anchor Bay DVD-1/US/OOP 2001 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audio Commentary by Kim Newman and Sean Hogan [Theatrical Version] | has extra | ||||||
| Audio Commentary by Director Robin Hardy and Actors Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward, Moderated by Mark Kermode [Director’s Cut] | has extra | has extra | has extra | has extra | |||
| Audio Commentary by William Fowler and Vic Pratt [The Final Cut] | has extra | ||||||
| “The Wicker Man” Enigma | has extra | has extra | has extra | has extra | has extra | ||
| Burnt Offering: The Cult of “The Wicker Man” | has extra | has extra | has extra | has extra | |||
| Ex-S: “The Wicker Man” | has extra | ||||||
| “The Wicker Man” at 50 | has extra | has extra | |||||
| Forged in Folklore: The Fakery of “The Wicker Man” - Video Essay by Adam Scovell | has extra | ||||||
| Revisiting the Locations of “The Wicker Man” | has extra | has extra | |||||
| Robin Hardy’s Script: The Lost Ending | has extra | has extra | |||||
| Willow’s Song & The Liberation of Eve – “The Wicker Man”: Sexual Revolution, Counterculture, and Satanic Feminism - Video Essay by Kat Ellinger | has extra | ||||||
| Worshiping “The Wicker Man” | has extra | has extra | has extra | has extra | has extra | ||
| The Golden Bough - Interview with David Huckvale | has extra | ||||||
| The Music of “The Wicker Man” - Interview with Associate Musical Director Gary Carpenter and Jonny Trunk | has extra | has extra | has extra | has extra | has extra | ||
| Archival Interview with Director Robin Hardy and Actor Christopher Lee | has extra | has extra | has extra | has extra | has extra | has extra | |
| Interview with David Huckvale on the Music of “The Wicker Man” | has extra | ||||||
| Interview with Actress Britt Ekland | has extra | has extra | |||||
| Interview with Director Robin Hardy | has extra | has extra | has extra | has extra | has extra | ||
| Interview with Musician Robert Reed | has extra | ||||||
| Interview with Musicians Stephen Cracknell and Mike Lindsay | has extra | ||||||
| Q&A with Director Robin Hardy | has extra | ||||||
| Audio Commentary Footage of Director Robin Hardy, Actors Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward, and Moderator Mark Kermode | has extra | has extra | has extra | ||||
| Restoration Comparison | has extra | has extra | has extra | has extra | |||
| Stills Gallery | has extra | has extra | |||||
| Biography: Actor Christopher Lee - Written by Avie Hern | has extra | has extra | |||||
| Biography: Actor Edward Woodward - Written by Avie Hern | has extra | has extra | |||||
| Biography: Director Robin Hardy - Written by Mark Wickum | has extra | has extra | |||||
| Biography: Writer Anthony Shaffer - Written by Avie Hern | has extra | has extra | |||||
| “The Final Cut” Trailer | has extra | has extra | has extra | has extra | has extra | ||
| UK Theatrical Trailer | has extra | has extra | has extra | has extra | has extra | has extra | |
| US Theatrical Trailer | has extra | ||||||
| US TV Spot | has extra | has extra | has extra | ||||
| US Radio Spots | has extra | has extra | has extra | ||||
| “Willows Song” - Promo Video by Robert Reed Featuring Angharad Brinn | has extra |
Notes
- Lions Gate’s 2023 “50th Anniversary Release” 4K UHD Steelbook is only available at Best Buy.
- Studio Canal’s 2023 “50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition” 4K UHD contains a 64-page booklet with writing by Justin and Dominic Hardy (“Introduction”), David Pinner (“Ritual: A Novel”), John Walsh (“‘Wicker Man’: The Flickering Myth”), and Rosie Fletcher (“Summerisle: An Island of Unsafe Women”); three art cards; two foldout posters; and a CD of songs. It is also available as a SteelBook without paper material and CD.
- Imprint’s Blu-ray includes a soundtrack CD.
- Studio Canal’s 2013 “3 Disc Set” Blu-ray includes a soundtrack CD.
- Anchor Bay’s “Limited Edition” DVD comes in a wooden box with postcard-sized reproductions of the British and US posters.
~ Have you spotted a mistake or would like to suggest a disc be added? Let us know ~
Ultimate Edition
Combine the best digital presentation with a selection of choice extras for the ultimate edition.
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“The Wicker Man” Enigma (34:34) -
Burnt Offering: The Cult of “The Wicker Man” (2001, 50:22) -
Ex-S: “The Wicker Man” (1998, 30:19) -
“The Wicker Man” at 50 (10:44) -
Forged in Folklore: The Fakery of “The Wicker Man” (12:28) -
Revisiting the Locations of “The Wicker Man” (11:48) -
Robin Hardy’s Script: The Lost Ending (10:44) -
Willow’s Song & The Liberation of Eve – “The Wicker Man”: Sexual Revolution, Counterculture, and Satanic Feminism (23:37) -
Worshiping “The Wicker Man” (23:34) -
The Golden Bough (15:26) -
The Music of “The Wicker Man” (16:00) -
Archival Interview with Director Robin Hardy and Actor Christopher Lee (1979, 25:53) -
Interview with David Huckvale on the Music of “The Wicker Man” (34:48) -
Interview with Actress Britt Ekland (10:21) -
Interview with Director Robin Hardy (16:59) -
Interview with Musician Robert Reed (3:39) -
Interview with Musicians Stephen Cracknell and Mike Lindsay (2:07) -
Q&A with Director Robin Hardy (2013, 11:24) -
Audio Commentary Footage of Director Robin Hardy, Actors Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward, and Moderator Mark Kermode (2001, 16:39) -
Restoration Comparison (1:52) -
“Willows Song” (5:55)
| Presentation |
Lions Gate 4K 2023
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Studio Canal 4K 2023
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Lions Gate BD 2014
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Imprint BD 2022
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Studio Canal BD 2013
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| Extras | Audio Commentary by Kim Newman and Sean Hogan [Theatrical Version] Imprint BD |
| Audio Commentary by Director Robin Hardy and Actors Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward, Moderated by Mark Kermode [Director’s Cut] Imprint BD | |
| Audio Commentary by William Fowler and Vic Pratt [The Final Cut] Imprint BD | |
| “The Wicker Man” Enigma Imprint BD | |
| Burnt Offering: The Cult of “The Wicker Man” Imprint BD | |
| Ex-S: “The Wicker Man” Imprint BD | |
| “The Wicker Man” at 50 Studio Canal 4K | |
| Forged in Folklore: The Fakery of “The Wicker Man” - Video Essay by Adam Scovell Imprint BD | |
| Revisiting the Locations of “The Wicker Man” Studio Canal 4K | |
| Robin Hardy’s Script: The Lost Ending Studio Canal 4K | |
| Willow’s Song & The Liberation of Eve – “The Wicker Man”: Sexual Revolution, Counterculture, and Satanic Feminism - Video Essay by Kat Ellinger Imprint BD | |
| Worshiping “The Wicker Man” Imprint BD | |
| The Golden Bough - Interview with David Huckvale Imprint BD | |
| The Music of “The Wicker Man” - Interview with Associate Musical Director Gary Carpenter and Jonny Trunk Imprint BD | |
| Archival Interview with Director Robin Hardy and Actor Christopher Lee Imprint BD | |
| Interview with David Huckvale on the Music of “The Wicker Man” Imprint BD | |
| Interview with Actress Britt Ekland Studio Canal 4K | |
| Interview with Director Robin Hardy Imprint BD | |
| Interview with Musician Robert Reed Imprint BD | |
| Interview with Musicians Stephen Cracknell and Mike Lindsay Imprint BD | |
| Q&A with Director Robin Hardy Imprint BD | |
| Audio Commentary Footage of Director Robin Hardy, Actors Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward, and Moderator Mark Kermode Imprint BD | |
| Restoration Comparison Imprint BD | |
| Stills Gallery Studio Canal 4K | |
| Biography: Actor Christopher Lee - Written by Avie Hern Anchor Bay DVD | |
| Biography: Actor Edward Woodward - Written by Avie Hern Anchor Bay DVD | |
| Biography: Director Robin Hardy - Written by Mark Wickum Anchor Bay DVD | |
| Biography: Writer Anthony Shaffer - Written by Avie Hern Anchor Bay DVD | |
| “The Final Cut” Trailer Imprint BD | |
| UK Theatrical Trailer Imprint BD | |
| US Theatrical Trailer Imprint BD | |
| US TV Spot Imprint BD | |
| US Radio Spots Imprint BD | |
| “Willows Song” - Promo Video by Robert Reed Featuring Angharad Brinn Imprint BD |
Disc reviews
Disc discussions
- Blu-ray.com Forum (Lions Gate)
- Blu-ray.com Forum (Studio Canal)
- The Classic Horror Film Board (Imprint)
